If the presentation matched the time period when the bout took place, it would function like an interactive history lesson. The developers should also use the game to help teach a new generation about Ali's life.Ī G.O.A.T mode that challenged you to fight every fighter in Ali faced in his career-or perhaps just the most popular ones-would be interesting. Here's how EA should approach the concept in an honorable and mutually beneficial manner.Įnsure that Ali's family and beneficiaries receive their due for the use of his likeness-even if that means an increased amount above what the existing agreement might be.Īlso, donate a percentage of the proceeds collected from the game's sales to research to more effective treatments for Parkinsons disease, and at least one of the Ali's favorite charities. No matter how these products are dressed up-and sometimes accurately presented-as legitimate tributes, they all seek to capitalize on traffic and interest created by Ali's passing. Before you cry exploitation, consider this:Ĭreating a game with Ali on the cover is no more exploitative than the thousands of articles, t-shirts, art work and television programs that have been produced since the legend passed away a week ago.
Now would be the perfect time to launch a new title with The G.O.A.T on the cover.
This isn't meant to be morbid, insensitive or solely opportunistic, but Muhammad Ali's passing and the celebration of his life and myriad of accomplishments has shined a brighter light on the sport than anyone, or any event in recent memory.ĮA Sports has long held a license to use Ali's likeness in their games. In light of that dynamic, a game changer must surface or perhaps a significant event must take place that EA can use to appeal to a larger demographic Perhaps it already has. Only way I'm gonna be in Fight Night is if they pay me." Secondly, Mayweather's legal issues don't exactly make him a prime candidate to become the face of a sports video game. In an interview from four years ago, Mayweather actually urged fans, "don't go buy Fight Night. Mayweather is likely going to ask for more money than EA Sports is willing to pay for his likeness. Mayweather on the cover of a boxing game would be a huge get for any publisher, but there's two problems with that. From a business standpoint, the buy-in from the hardcore fight fan isn't significant enough to persuade a major publisher and developer to move. That then makes it more difficult for EA-or any company-to sell a boxing game to any demographic besides the hardcore fan. There's no one in the sport who evokes widespread passion-positive or negative-currently on the sport's landscape. With the sport of boxing suffering with mainstream popularity and approval, EA Sports could be understandably gun shy about releasing another Fight Night.įloyd Mayweather Jr's retirement has left boxing without a signature star.
Chances are, those totals are beneath what EA Sports hoped to deliver and thus falls short of the profit the publisher hoped to make. So if this game had so many qualities, why are we still without a sequel more than five years later? The answer probably lies with the sales numbers.Īccording to, FNC has sold just 790,000 copies on the Xbox 360 and about 1.14 million on the PS3.
Beyond the single-player experience, the online head-to-head community was a solid one as well.